Process and apparatus for actuating the change of the supply bobbin of automatic cross-winding machines



United States Patent inventor Hans Spani Zurich, Switzerland Appl. No.694,765 Filed Dec. 4, 1967 Patented Nov. 10, 1970 AssigneeAktiengesellschatt Gebrueder Loepie Zurich, Switzerland a corporation ofSwitzerland Priority Dec. 8, 1966 Switzerland 17,671

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR ACTUATING THE CHANGE OF THE SUPPLY BOBBIN OFAUTOMATIC CROSS-WINDING MACHINES 3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl..... 242/36 Int. Cl. B65h 63/02, B65h 63/06 Field of Search242/35.5,

Mill

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,752,103 6/1956 Furst242/36 3,304,015 2/1967 Jenny 242/35.6 3,314,621 4/1967 Bous 242/35.63,370,800 2/1968 Haberkern 242/36 3,380,677 4/1968 Stapfer 242/35.53,389,867 6/1968 Pitts 242/35.6

Primary Examiner-Stanley N. Gilreath Assistant ExaminerWerner l-l.Schroeder Attorney-Morgan, Finnegan, Durham and Pine Patented Nov. 10,1970 3,539,122

mvnugon mms SPANI Gimme! gain ATTORNEYS PROCESS AND APPARATUS FORACTUATING THE CHANGE OF THE SUPPLY BOBBIN F AUTOMATIC CROSS-WINDINGMACHINES This invention relates to automatic cross-winding machines andis an improvement over and an addition to known auto matic cross-windingmachines, such as the automatic cross winder Autoconer made by W.Schlafhorst & Co. of Moenchengladbach, Germany, or the machinecorresponding to Jenny, US. Pat. No. 3,304,015 issued Feb 14, 1967. Theinvention relates more particularly to an apparatus and process ofactuating the exchange of the supply bobbin of an automaticcross-winding machine provided with an electronic yarn clearer.

An exchange of the supply bobbin can become necessary when the windingprocess is interrupted due to a yarn break or the empty running of theunwinding bobbin. In that case the usual operation of an automatic crosswinder is as follows:

Initially the interruption of the moving of the yarn is determined bymeans of a suitable detecting device, the so-called yarn stop-motiondevice. This causes the operation of another device to eliminate theinterruption, namely, to connect the end of the yarn already wound uponthe cross-wound package with the end of the yarn which is to be furtherwound. For that purpose, it is necessary that thetwo yarn ends to bejoined should be at specific locations wherein they can be grasped.

As far as the yarn end on the side of the cross-wound package isconcerned, it can be raised from the slowly rearwardly rotating packageby a suction nozzle and guided to a connecting device. However, the endof the yarn emerging from the supply bobbin is difficult to grasp at thespool itself. In most constructions this end of the yarn is thereforeheld in a defined location so that it can be brought out of thatlocation by means of a gripping device to the connecting device.

The end of the yarn assumes a defined location at the starting end of anew bobbin. Therefore, the problem of grasping the yarn end of thesupply bobbin can be solved by replacing the supply bobbin every timethe running of the yarn is interrupted. This solution requires, however,the sorting of the ejected bobbins depending upon their fillingcondition and the reintroduction of bobbins the unwinding of which is tocontinue. This process will not be considered here.

Another process consists in that in case of yarn breakage the end of theyarn from a partially unwound bobbin is held by a suitable holdingdevice so that it is also present in a defined location. Then a newsupply bobbin is to be provided only if there is no yarn end at thislocation. This occurs when, for example, the supply bobbin is empty orwhen the yarn breakage occurs between the holding device and the supplybobbin.

To provide the exchange of the supply bobbin in accordance with thisprocess, it is therefore necessary to determine upon interruption of thewinding procedure whether the end of the yarn drawn off the supplybobbin can be grasped in the position defined by the holding device. Totry to provide a connection without this determination and to start thewinding head is not practically feasible due to the danger that thecross-wound package may be damaged and due to the difficulty of locatingthe yarn end on the cross-wound package when making a renewed attempt.

Usually a mechanical feeling member is used which is located between theholding device and the supply bobbin. This feeling member must becapable of determining the presence ofa yarn which is at rest, andtherefore must be very sensitive and precisely adjusted. A constructionknown in prior art consists of two forklike interengaging parts whichengage the yarn and the end position of which depends upon the presenceof the yarn. It was found in actual practice that such a feeling membercan easily become inoperative, particularly due to dirtying, improperadjustment and wear.

Another prior art suggestion was to use a feeling device which does notengage the yarn, for example, in the form of a light beam. However, thedetermination of a resting yarn is also difficult with a device of thistype which requires a considerably expensive apparatus.

terized by the feature that the exchange of bobbins is made dey pendentupon a signal supplied by the electronic yarn clearer.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detaileddescription when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing,showing by way of example, a preferred embodiment of the inventive idea.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the location of the parts rela tivelyto the moving yarn which are important for the understanding of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the time sequence of the signalscontrolling a bobbin exchange.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the circuit of the actuating device ofthe present invention.

The separate devices constituting parts of the circuit are well known inthe art and are shown merely diagrammatically.

FIG. 1 illustrates purely diagrammatically the path of movement of thespooling yarn F which is drawn off a supply bobbin AS and is wound upona cross-wound package, e.g. a cone or cheese KS. Besides other parts,the yarn passes through an electronic yarn clearer which includes thecutting device designated as T and a sensing device A which operateswithout touching the yarn.

When the cutting deviceT cuts the yarn or when there is yarn breakagebetween the device T and the cross-wound package, the end ofthe yarn ofthe supply bobbin is held in a clamping device H so that it can beengaged by a gripping device.

FIG. 1 also shows a mechanical sensing device W that can be used as apart of the yarn stop-motion device of the machine in order to sense thepresence of the yarn during the winding process. Such a mechanicalsensing device can have the shape of a lever which is held in apredetermined position by the running yarn and which returns to a restposition whe the yarn is broken or absent.

In place of the mechanical sensing device W, the sensing device A of theelectronic yarn clearer can be used as a part of the yarn stop-motiondevice, as it delivers a signal component characterizing the presence ofa moving yarn. This case will be dealt with in the example of theembodiment of the present invention.

The primary function of yarn stop-motion devices, when a yarn breakageoccurs, are the stopping of the driving device of the winding unit andsignaling the automatic knotting device, as disclosed in the US. Pat. toJenny, No. 3,304,015 (issued Feb. 14,1967).

Finally, FIG. 1 shows a suction nozzle S the purpose of which is to suckin the end of the yarn at the bobbin side in case of yarn breakage atthe cross-wound package or between this package and the suction nozzleand thus to hold this yarn end. This operation will be described ingreater detail hereinafter.

FIG. 2 is a time sequence diagram illustrating the signals occurringwhen a yarn breaks, with particular reference to the arrangement shownin FIG. 1.

gram. Directly after the separation of the yarn the yarn stopmotiondevice is actuated, as indicated in line (I) of the diagram, in thatthere is the disappearance of a signal FW continuously produced by theundamaged yarn. According to a first example, not shown in the drawingthis produces a signal which can start the exchange of the supplybobbin. In the considered case of intended breakage this action shouldnot take place, however, since in this case the yarn is held in theholding device. Therefore, the separating impulse ST produces acondition which prevents the passage of the signal which would start theexchanging of the bobbin and which, for example, occurs immediately whenthe yarn stop motion is actuated.

The diagram of FIG. 2 shows another example pertaining to a particularembodiment of the present invention, in accordance with which thedisappearance of the yarn stop motion signal FW releases the actuatingdevice with a predetermined delay V. The rear flank of the first impulseST released by the breakage of the yarn produces a locking condition Mwhich prevents the second actuating impulse produced with the delay Vafter the disappearance of FW to start the exchange ofthe bobbin.

The second case, namely, the unpremeditated interruption ofthe yarnmovement without cutting the yarn takes place, for example, when thesupply bobbin becomes empty or when the yarn breaks. In that case thereis no actuation of the cutting device before the appearance of theactuating signal ST released by the yarn stop motion and, therefore,there is no locking condition for this signal, as is indicated insection II of the diagram of FIG. 2, so that the signal causes anexchange of the supply bobbin.

In that case this exchange is usually necessary, since if the supplybobbin is exhausted or in the case of yarn breakage between the holdingdevice and the unwinding spool, there is no yarn any more in thelocation of the holding device.

Due to the fact that during the unwinding of a single supply bobbin onthe average 1.5 intentional yarn breakages and l unintentional breakagetake place, it is apparent that the above described simple procedurealready results in an effective operation.

However, among unintended yarn breakages there are also those which takeplace between the holding device and the cross-wound package. These canbe also eliminated without exchanging the supply bobbin by a suitableactuation of the holding device. This is desirable, particularly whenunintended yarn breakages take place quite often.

This can be accomplished in accordance with the present invention byusing a signal for operating the exchange of the bobbin which isproduced in the sensing device of the yarn cleaner during the passage ofa yarn end. This specific signal characterized by its polarity and itsamplitude can be used, for example, in accordance with the completediagram of FIG. 2 and in the circuit according to FIG. 3, as a criterionfor the necessity of a bobbin exchange.

Section II of FIG. 2 pertains specifically to the case of yarn breakagebetween the holding device and the supply bobbin and the case ofexhausted bobbin. At the time of the interruption of the signal FW whichcharacterizes an undamaged yarn (line (1)), the sensing device willdetect the passage of the end of the yarn which is being wound upon thestill running crosswound package. This produces an impulse or conditionE (line (3) of the diagram) which in the present example should be ofsuch duration that it is shorter than the shortest duration V of thedelay for the creation of the actuating impulse ST by the yarn stopmotion. This actuating impulse or the rear flank thereof, occurs in thiscase at a moment in which the condition E has already terminated andtherefore produces a release of the actuating device for the exchange ofthe supply bobbin (impulse B (line 4)).

n the other hand, section III shows conditions resulting from theappearance of a yarn end in case the yarn breaks between the sensingdevice and the cross-wound package. Then the yarn stop motion isactuated; however, the yarn end extending from the supply bobbin remainslying in the sensing device due to the action of the suction nozzle S(FIG. 1). After the delay period V, there appears the impulse STreleased by the yarn stop motion, which actuates the cutting device andproduces a separation of the yarn at that location. Directly thereafter,the yarn piece which was lying in the sensing device is removed from thesensing device by the suction effeet of the nozzle S, so that theimpulse E is produced, as

shown in section III, line (3). If the duration of the impulses E and STis properly set, the rear flank of the actuating impulse ST occurs whileE is present and this is used to prevent the starting of the exchange ofthe supply bobbin.

Similarly, in the case of an intentionally produced yarn breakage, theyarn impulse E follows the actuation of the cutting device, in this caseby the first impulse ST (line (2), section I of FIG. 2), so that therear flank of this impulse ST does not produce an exchange of thebobbin.

As already stated, the secondimpulse ST released by the yarn stopmotion, is ineffective due to the locking action of the first actuationimpulse of the cutting device.

Thus only in case [1, namely, when the supply bobbin is empty or whenyarn is broken between the holding device and the supply bobbin, anactuating signal B is produced to start the exchange of the bobbin.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram ofa circuit of an actuating device of thepresent invention for producing an exchange of the supply bobbin. Theillustrated example pertains to the electronic monitoring of yarn,whereby a single sensing device A carries out three different functions,namely, monitoring of the running yarn, yarn clearing and actuating theexchange of the supply bobbin. The device A produces an electricalsignal which varies in time and which follows the differences in thethickness of the yarn along the yarn length. This signal is transmitted,on the one hand, to a yarn stop motion channel FW which determines thepresence of a moving and therefore undamaged yarn by signal variationsproduced by the raw surface of the yarn. If these signal variationsdisappear, the actuating device ST is released through the delay deviceV to operate the cutting device T. The delay device V can operate purelyelectrically, however, it can be also provided with mechanicalintermediate members.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, theelectronic yarn-monitoring device by means of an electromagnet, actuatesthe same mechanical members of the stopping device of the machine whichcan be used with a purely mechanical yarn stop-motion device. In thatcase one of these mechanical members operates a switch releasing theactuating device ST. This arrangement provides, on the one hand, asufficient delay resulting from durations of actuation, inertness ofmechanical members, switch movements, etc. On the other hand, it has thesubstantial advantage that the cutting device is not actuated when thewinding operation is switched off by hand when the cross-wind packagehas reached a predetermined diameter or when a different supervisingorgan, and not the yarn stop motion device, has produced the switchingoff of the winding operation.

The operation of the cutting device further takes place through theevaluating circuit of the yarn cleaner FR which is also connected to thesensing device A and which produces an actuating signal when there is adefect in the yarn. The outlet of the actuating device ST is connected,on the one hand, to the cutting device T and, on the other hand, extendsover intermediate members to an actuating device B which starts theexchange of the supply bobbin. By way of example, the first intermediatemember may be a monostable multivibrator M. This multivibrator isactuated by the rear flank of the actuating impulse ST and operates sothat during a time period M any possible further actuating impulse willnot be effective. As shown in FIG. 2, line (2), the time constant M mustbe so selected that the condition M continues longer than the maximumdelay time period V plus the duration of the impulse ST. Theactuation'of the multivibrator M transmits at the same time an impulseto the following intermediate member, namely, the anticoincidence(exclusive OR-gate) device G. This impulse which is joined with the rearflank of the impulse ST is thus transmitted by the device G to thedevice B, provided that at the same time there does not appear animpulse E at the second inlet of the device G. As already stated, thisimpulse E is produced during the passage of a yarn end through thesensing device A, for example, in a channel of the evaluating device ofthe yarn clearer FR.

Thus the two intermediate members M and G produce the effect illustratedin the diagram of FIG. 2, namely, the actuating device B is releasedonly if the rear flank of the first actuating impulse ST resulting froma yarn break, appears outside of the time interval E determined by theimpulse of the yarn end.

By way of example, the actuating device B is an electromagnet whichoperates the mechanical members producing the exchange of the supplybobbin, This type of operation takes over completely the function of ayarn-feeling member located between the holding device and the unwindingbobbin, by the use of signals produced by the movement of the yarn butwithout contacting it. This results in a great simplification of theapparatus, particularly since the sensing device of an electronic yarncleaner is used for producing these signals. A further importantadvantage lies in an increase in the safety of operations resulting fromthe elimination of mechanical feeling members for the unmoving yarnwhich are always subject to disturbances.

It is apparent that the example described above has been given solely byway of illustration and not by way of limitation and that it is capableof many variations and modifications within the scope of the presentinvention. All such variations and modifications are to be includedwithin the scope of the present invention.

lclaim:

l. A process for actuating the change of the supply bobbin of anautomatic cross-winding machine having an electronic yarn clearer with asensing area, and a cutting device, said process comprising monitoringthe yarn being wound, producing a pulse when there is a defect in theyarn, said pulse actuating the cutting device, producing a pulse whenthe winding of the yarn is interrupted, and combining said two pulsesfor providing the exchange of the bobbin.

2. An automatic cross-winding machine comprising an exchanging devicefor the supply bobbin and a yarn clearer, said yarn clearer having ayarn-cutting device, a sensing device for monitoring the yarn, a firstsignal-processing channel wherein a pulse is produced due to a defect inthe yarn for actuating said cutting device, and a yarn stop-motionsignalprocessing channel delivering a pulse then the winding process isinterrupted, said pulses from the said two signal-processing channelsactuating an anticoincidence member operatively connected with saidbobbin-exchanging device.

3. An automatic cross-winding machine comprising an exchanging devicefor the supply bobbin, a yarn stop-motion device delivering a signalwhen the winding process is interrupted, and a yarn clearer, whereinsaid yarn clearer has a sensing device for monitoring the yarn, a firstsignalprocessing channel wherein a pulse is produced due to a defeet inthe yarn, a second signal-processing channel wherein a pulse is produceddue to the passage of a yarn end through said sensing device, and ayarn-cutting device actuated by a pulse from said firstsignal-processing channel, said winding machine further comprising adelaying device for the signal from said yarn stop-motion device, meansconstituting a part of said first signal-processing channel foractuating said yarncutting device, said delaying device being connectedto said means, and an anticoincidence member actuated by said pulsesfrom the first and second signal-processing channels and operativelyconnected with said bobbin-exchanging device.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Patent No. 3,539,122 Dated November 10, 1970Inventofls) HANS NI It is certified that error appears in theabove-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are herebycorrected as shown below:

Column 3, line 35, change "unwinding. spool" to --supply bot Column 3,line 51, change "cleaner" to --clearer--.

Column 4, line 54, change "cross-wind" to --cross-winding-- Column 5,line 22, change 'cleaner" to --clearer--.

Signed and sealed this 10th day of August 1971.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR. Attesting OfficerCommissioner of Patents

